10/09/97 - 1097

Accident in Jagannath Puri Temple

Jagannath Puri, India (VNN) - The Times of India reports of an accident that happened inside the walls of the famous Jagannath Puri temple which caused one fatality last month. Apparently some stones fell from the 300 meter inner wall of the temple crushing a boy. Some say the incident was due to shopkeepers building big tents inside the temple compound using one of the old temple walls as support. Archaeologists have called for the removal of the shops and are warning that if the structures set up by traders and priests are not removed other accidents may happen. In the past there had been several attempts to remove the merchants from the structures. Apparently plans are made to modernize the Ananda Bazaar to make the environment safer and improve the temple atmosphere inside the temple compound. An estimated 10,000 pilgrims are said to be visiting and taking prasadam at the temple every day.